The Innocent Man Connections

For my first book, I decided to read the Innocent Man written by John Grisham. As I read this book it made me think of the story, Siddhartha, that we are reading in class. Throughout reading each story I saw many connections that I thought were related. Although many things are related, it was in a different way of looking at things.
For starters, both stories are about men trying to grow and find the true meaning in their life. While trying to grow as boys, men, and humans, they both have a path they are on in order for them to be satisfied. Siddhartha left his dad in the Brahmins to join Shramana's. On page ten Siddhartha says to his dad, "With your permission, father I have come to tell you that I wish to depart from your home and join the ascetics." That part of the story connects to the innocent man because Ron Williams left his family to try and make a major league baseball team. They both had to make a very long and hard decision that would change their lives forever.
Also, Ron Williams looks at his life and after injuries and depression he looks to drugs and alcohol and in Siddhartha he goes to the city looking for materialistic items and alcohol as well. Unlike Ron Williams, Siddhartha sees himself becoming a different person and he realizes that he needs to leave the city so he can expand himself and be happier. Unfortunately, Ron Williams, isn't strong enough for that and instead of growing to be a bigger better person, he only grows smaller.
Apart from the main characters, the stories themselves connect. Both stories make you really think deeply about your past and even about your future. When you read Siddhartha you think of all the things you did when you were little to try and figure out who you were and while you're reading The Innocent Man you think of what you could've done to be in the terrible situation that he was. It makes you hope you continue making the right decisions in your life that will help you grow as a person.

Changing The Elements The Innocent Man

While reading "The Innocent Man" the author spent a good amount of time explaining that the innocent man, Ron Williams, was once a star baseball player in Oklahoma. He was given the great opportunity to play baseball in college but rejected the offer so he could make the big leagues. His chances of playing in the MLB quickly began to fade with a messed up shoulder along with bad drinking and drug habits.

The author chose to add the darker details of Ron Williams and the bad choices he has made throughout his life. The author made strategic decision in adding those aspects. If John Grisham hadn’t chosen to add this to the book, would the reader even be surprised that Williams was found guilty or even suspected of the crime? I completely believe that if the author didn’t add the parts of Ron Williams and his past then the reader wouldn’t have really grasped that he would be a main suspect in a murder.

Like on page 68 of the Innocent Man the author, John Grisham, says, “in February 1981, Ron was again arrested for drunk driving and pleaded guilty.” So Ron Williams obviously had a problem with drinking, and was caught more than once. The book theme isn't a mystery about who goes to jail, but more of the man that went to jail when he didn't deserve it. On the back cover of the book it says, “in a trial littered with lying witnesses and tainted evidence that would shatter a man’s already broken life… and let a true killer go free.” If the author decided to make the innocent man a mystery would that have completely changed the book? I feel that if we didn't know about Ron Williams and that he was indeed innocent it would really change how you feel about him because while reading the book you feel terrible for Ron Williams knowing that he had a bad life with some bad choices and he is going to go to jail for something he didn't do, you feel bad for him. On the other hand, if you didn't know that he was innocent then you don't feel bad for him and you are even glad he goes to jail.